by Bob Gansler
#8 - NOVEMBER 00	FOG IN THE MORN

Inside of their lavish coastal estate, Juliette had waited anxiously for the return of her lover Shen 'Cat' Kuei. It had been nearly thirty minutes ago that Cat had gone outside to investigate a supposed disturbance. She thought it strange that the security personnel had not responded or that any alarms had not been triggered. However, she knew better than to question Cat's words. While she loved him with all her heart, there were parts of him that her love could not penetrate.

A sound came at the reinforced door. It was the sound of a key being inserted into the lock. Only Shen had a key to the door. Was it truly him, or had it been taken from his defeated (or, God forbid, dead) body? Something worried her. There was no voice on the other side to comfort her. Surely, Shen would have announced himself, if it were he.

Juliette cradled the pistol in her hands. She would not reveal her presence inside of the room until it was too late. Although her hands trembled, she had no doubt that she would be able to fire a fatal shot. Her finger pressed tensely against the trigger. If it was not Shen, she would kill as many as she could.

The door opened. Juliette brought the pistol up and aimed it at the intruder's heart. Though silhouetted by the lights outside of the dark room, she could tell that it was indeed Shen Kuei. She slowly let her finger off of the pistol and put the pistol down. She leapt to her feet and embraced him. "Shen! Shen! Why did you worry me like that?" She lifted her hands from his shoulders and peppered his face with kisses. "What went on out there?"

Shen was slow to return the embrace. The look in his eyes was somewhat distant as he endured the bombardment of kisses. He mechanically raised his hand and stroked her long blond hair. "It was nothing. Everything is fine. I am glad that you are safe." He pushed her softly away. "Now I must go. There is business to attend to."

"Business? Now?" Juliette exclaimed. "I need you here, Shen." She reached for his hands, but he moved them quickly away. "Forget the situation with the British and the Red Chinese."

"The situation has changed," Cat replied coldly. "I must act accordingly." He shrugged off her attempt to grab him from behind, and he left the house. Juliette was left lying on the floor, her eyes red with tears.

The bellhop rolled the room service cart out of the immense suite. The registered guest, Rufus Carter, and his visitors - Shang-Chi, Leiko Wu, and J.B. Reston - had eaten very well this morning. They were all quite hungry after last night's events. Battling menaces mutated by Fu Manchu's science was not what the members of Freelance Restorations had expected when they agreed to watch over Rufus Carter's big fight. They had been even more surprised when the true reason behind the threats and the brawl were revealed - the British diplomatic delegation to deal with the Hong Kong situation had been murdered at the fight.

"That was a delicious meal," Leiko commented as she wiped the last of the hollandaise sauce from her Eggs Benedict from her face. "But don't for a minute think that we're going to let it take the place of our fee."

"We may have more important things to consider than money," Shang-Chi noted. He had only eaten a few rolls and drunk some tea. While the others had continued to feast, he had assumed the lotus position on the plush couch and meditated over recent events.

"Quite right," J.B. Reston declared. "Quite right, indeed." He poured himself some more tea. "However, after Mr. Carter's windfall last night, despite the rather unorthodox nature of the fight, we would be remiss if we did not collect our fee. It would appear that, for once, 'Super Midnight' is able to pay his bill."

"Now hold on a minute," Rufus mumbled as he continued to munch on an English muffin. "Just because the promoters were able to sell the videotape rights to our impromptu brouhaha for a couple of million pounds doesn't mean that gives you the right to take advantage of me." He smiled. "I think I oughta be able to at least deduct the price of this breakfast from your fee. Fair's far, ain't it?"

"Would you then consider paying, with interest, for the help that you've received in times past from Shang-Chi and others," Leiko asked. She was joking, of course. She knew that Shang-Chi would not ever consider demanding payment for past assistance, but she wanted to make sure that Rufus knew that Freelance Restorations was not in the charity business.

"OK, OK." Rufus put up his hands to surrender. Maybe he should hire Leiko to be his promoter. He could tell that she would prove to be a shrewd negotiator. "Forget I even mentioned it. I'll make sure that the money's transferred to your Swiss account by the end of the day."

"If the financial negotiations are completed?" Shang-Chi rose to his feet. It troubled him that they had been so misdirected. They had been so intent on protecting Rufus that they had not considered that members of the audience could be the true targets. Misdirection. It was the trademark of his father's style. Perhaps the years that stretched out since the Emissary of Evil's last escapade had deadened Shang-Chi's instincts in that regard. It was not a mistake that he could afford to make again.

"Now hold on there, son," J.B. spoke up. "The three of us made a significant contribution to last night's entertainment, albeit unwillingly. I would think it only proper that we share in the profits from the sale of the videotape."

"Hey, you guys were under contract to me," Rufus objected. "Besides, I was the main attraction. You three were only the side matches."

J.B. grumbled under his breath. They had signed a contract. Undoubtedly, there were 'legalese' provisions in it that would keep them from realizing a portion of the profits. Still, the idea of the videotape gave him an idea. The actual killers of the diplomats had escaped. Perhaps the videotape might shed some light on that. Freelance Restorations did not have the facilities to undertake a high-tech analysis, but MI-6 certainly did. Also, he was certain that Fah Lo Suee would appreciate a personal update. "I have a notion," he announced as he rose from the breakfast table. "I'm going into the bedroom ring up a friend and get some help."

Shang-Chi crossed his arms. Though his face betrayed no expression, inside he was further troubled. J.B. was acting very suspicious. It made him uneasy to have an ally that he could not trust implicitly. There was more than J.B.'s involvement than he let on, but nonetheless Shang-Chi felt that J.B. was devoted to fighting against Fu Manchu. He wondered what truly constituted J.B.'s agenda.

Across town the agenda of another was being questioned. The questioner was Clive Reston, a Director of Intelligence for the British government. The questioned was Fah Lo Suee, head of MI-6, Britain's foreign intelligence agency. The topic of the 'discussion' was the deaths of the British diplomats at the Rufus Carter fight the night before.

"Didn't I bloody well tell you that I wanted this all done in-house?" Clive slammed his hands upon Fah's desk. "And there I see Shang-Chi, Leiko, and my own bloody father on the telly this morning? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"That I am disturbed by the assassination of the diplomats," Fah replied matter-of-factly.

"Quite right that it's disturbing that the diplomats got knocked off during the fight, and I'm going to find out who their escorts were and lock them up in the bloody Tower of London for dereliction of duty." Clive crossed his arms and started pacing about the office. "But that's not the point here. If I'm going to talk about dereliction of duty, I should start looking right here. I gave you a direct order – to do this in-house."

"I am quite aware of your suggestions," Fah answered calmly. "I have assigned the primary task of dealing with my father machinations to your father."

"In-house, in-house!" Clive ranted. "What part of that do you not understand?"

Fah smiled devilishly. "What part of 'retired MI-6 agent' do you not understand? Your father is a retired agent of MI-6, subject to recall, if physically capable, at the director's discretion. I am MI-6 director, I have exercised my discretion."

Clive stared at Fah and shook his head. Sometimes he wanted to strangle the infuriating woman. Sometimes it seemed like utter madness to have Fu Manchu's own daughter heading one of Britain's most sensitive agencies. "I suppose," Clive relented. "But what about Shang-Chi and Leiko? Did they just happen to be there, too?"

"They are friends of Rufus Carter, are they not?" Fah replied. "I am sure that they were there to lend support to their friend."

"Perhaps," Clive muttered. There was more going on here, but he did not have the time or resources to investigate his own agencies right now. As much of the thought of his father operating in the field on this case galled him, he would let Fah go ahead with whatever her devious strategies were. It would be a waste of time to struggle with her over it. Clive knew MI-6 was completely loyal to her now. He just hoped that she was loyal to Britain. "All right. Carry on with whatever you're doing. Just keep me informed. I mean that, or else."

"Of course," Fah nodded. "Good day, Director Reston."

Once Clive had exited, Fah returned to the neatly stacked piles of reports arrayed upon her desk. There were many investigations and efforts ongoing at this time. She made sure that she was informed as to the developments in each of them. However, the one that interested her most had not arrived. She expected a report from Mia 'Dark Angel' Lessing and Lancaster 'Shockwave' Sneed as to their progress in Hong Kong.

The local MI-6 agents had only reluctantly given their support to Mia Lessing and Lancaster Sneed since their arrival on the island. Despite Mia's pleading, Sneed continued to wear his Shockwave armour underneath his trenchcoat. Mia had argued that this made the local MI-6 agents uncomfortable, but Sneed would brook no further discussion of it. Fah Lo Suee had managed to convince Sneed to expose his scarred face as well as join MI-6. It would take her persuasive talents to convince Sneed, and Mia did not have the skills to do that.

With the information supplied by the locals, Mia and Lancaster set out to make contact with Shen 'Cat' Kuei. He was one of the most well-connected people in all of Hong Kong. He might know better than MI-6 what was happening behind the scenes in Hong Kong. Both the Chinese and British governments were becoming more concerned about the supposed revolutionary movement on Hong Kong. MI-6 had uncovered some information that linked the movement to Shang-Chi. Mia knew that he could not be involved, he was in Britain.

It took a great deal of conversation with Cat's operatives in order to secure a meeting for Mia and Lancaster with Shen Kuei. The two agents had followed a convoluted path through Hong Kong's warehouse district, talking with one business interest after another, before finally being admitted to an audience with the somewhat unscrupulous businessman.

Mia and Lancaster waited in a well-lighted warehouse, stacked to the rafters with sealed wooden boxes. Lancaster leaned down and smelled one of the boxes.

"Don't smell anything illegal," he noted. "I wonder what they're shipping out of here."

Mia frowned at Lancaster. "Don't get any ideas about opening anything, Sneed," she warned. "We don't want to antagonize Shen Kuei. We need him for information, and perhaps as an ally."

"Information I can provide," Shen called out. He had entered the warehouse with cat-like grace, unbeknownst to Mia and Lancaster. "An ally may be another story, altogether."

Shang-Chi, Leiko, and J.B. sat huddled in the broadcast room. Yesterday, this room had looked out onto the packed stadium, filled with eager fight fans. Now, the seats were empty. It was only the three of them and the wide array of video-screens. J.B. had flashed his MI-6 identification to the MI-6 operatives who were there masquerading as stadium staff. They had loaded all of the tapes from the incident and given the trio some quick instruction as to how to operate the machinery.

"So many cameras," Shang-Chi noted. "Still, they cannot capture the essence of the event itself. It only provides a pale imitation of life itself."

"Now don't go off spouting off some condemnation of all the people who are addicted to the telly, son," J.B. replied. "Having all of these cameras going might give us some clues as to what really happened last night."

"J.B.'s right," Leiko added. "We were so busy struggling against those transformed that we never saw who killed the diplomats or how they did it."

"Agents of my father, undoubtedly with knives, as attested by the wounds," Shang-Chi said without his normal calm. He had wanted to fly for Hong Kong. He had not been able to reach Cat since Shen Kuei had first contacted him. The real trouble lay in that far-off island. Leiko and J.B. had contended that they had to investigate the assassinations first. Their superior numbers had prevailed.

"Just have a little patience, son," J.B. said as he manipulated the video equipment with surprising ease. "I always thought you were famous for your inner tranquility. You sound a little testy to me."

"I wish to see my father's evil stopped. He is not on the British Isles. This only delays the inevitable clash. Time is life and it slips away."

J.B. looked up from the control board. "Take it from one who's seen a few more years than you. Let's see if we can figure this little scheme out first before we face the master villain. It's makes for better drama that way."

"You see this is as a game?" Shang-Chi asked.

"Life is a game, my boy. I like to make sure that I don't lose," J.B. smiled knowingly. "I can see that there's more to your agitation than you're letting on. We'll face Fu Manchu, have no fear, but listen to my experience."

Leiko put her hands on Shang-Chi's shoulders. "Don't lose your inner peace, Shang. You've worked so hard to get it."

Shang-Chi crossed his arms but he did not move away from Leiko's touch. "That peace has been shattered. More than just by the return of my father. There is an evil that pervades all of existence now. I may never achieve the inner calm ever again."

"Well, would you look at that," J.B. exclaimed. He pointed towards one of the video-screens. The tape was showing the scene in the stands when chaos erupted and people had begun to flee from the stadium. At the edge of the screen, they could see a trio of Oriental businessmen rising from their seats. One of the them started a scuffle with the guards that were assigned to the diplomats. As the diplomats got caught up in the wave of people pressing towards the exits, the other businessmen slipped in behind them. Opening their briefcases, they withdrew jagged daggers and plunged the weapons in the diplomats backs.

One of the assassins turned as they made their escape into the crowd. His face was instantly recognized by the Shang-Chi and Leiko. It was their friend Chan Gho, an honest shopkeeper in Limehouse - a very rare commodity in that area.

"Chan Gho! It cannot be," Shang-Chi gasped. He had always known Chan to be a trustworthy man, one who would never be turned towards the evil enterprises that controlled most of Limehouse. "He cannot be a servant in the schemes of Fu Manchu!"

"Easy, Shang," Leiko said comfortingly. "There has to be an explanation. I know Chan as well as you do."

"So you're saying that this fellow is known to you?" J.B. clasped his hands behind his head. "And I gather by your surprise that you never suspected him as being one of the assassins or perpetrating any dirty deed."

"I never expected him to raise a hand against anyone," Shang-Chi countered. "He was completely devoted to peace."

"Maybe old Fu's got something on him. He's a nasty fellow," J.B. offered. "Maybe he didn't do it willingly."

"True," Shang-Chi agreed. "And my father has many means in his employ to persuade others to work in his cause." He reached over and turned off the control board. "Hong Kong must wait. We must talk to Chan Gho first. I would unravel this part of the puzzle before facing the greater mystery."

A few minutes later, Shang-Chi, Leiko, and J.B. were once again in Limehouse. It had only been a few days since they were last there. That time they had entered the Oriental district of London in disguise. This time they marched into the district openly. They headed directly for Chan Gho's fishing shop. At this time of day, Shang-Chi expected the shopkeeper to cleaning up after the early morning business with the local fishers.

There were not many people out in the streets and alleys of Limehouse. That was strange. Stranger still was the fog that seemed to hover in the air.

J.B. checked his watch. "Rather late in the morning for fog to still be out."

Shang-Chi's eyes wandered from side to side. "This mist is not natural. It reeks of the science of Fu Manchu."

"Come on, lad," J.B. argued. "Not everything is your father's fault."

"I don’t' know about that," Leiko interjected. "It's getting thicker as we walk further into it. I can barely see either of you."

"A perfect climate into which one might spring a trap." Shang-Chi immediately assumed a defensive stance. Leiko and J.B. thought he was being overcautious, but they were quickly dissuaded of that as a pair of knives came flying towards them.

Shang-Chi knocked the knives down and then turned to see a group of Thugs leaping through the fog at him. He could not turn to see what might be befalling his comrades, but he was certain they were likewise engaged. He would have to concentrate on his own foes. Their moves showed their skill, and their visages showed their deadly desires.

Shen 'Cat' Kuei stood before Mia Lessing and Lancaster Sneed. The two MI-6 agents were finally face-to-face with the person for whom they had traveled halfway around the world. The next few moments would likely tell if their journey would be worthwhile.

"You are a strange pair of British agents," Cat chuckled at the sight of his two guests. "Your reputation precedes you, 'Miss Lessing'. I never had the opportunity to cross path with you when you did the bidding of your Soviet masters, but acquaintances have told me that you are quite capable."

Mia was momentarily take aback that Cat knew about her KGB background. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"And you, Mr. Sneed," Cat said as his eyes fell towards the other agent. "I'm somewhat surprised to see you back in the employ of MI-6. I thought that you had a falling out with that organisation. Then again, your relationship with the new leader in Vauxhall explains much."

Lancaster's grim face showed no other emotion. It was obvious to him that Cat knew him to be Shockwave. It was unexpected but it changed nothing in Lancaster's mind.

"You've done your homework, Mr. Kuei. We're impressed," Mia said politely. "As you heard when you arrived, we're hoping to get some information from you."

Cat nodded his head and smiled. "Ah, about the situation here in Hong Kong. I know much about the situation - the players, the stratagems, the goals, the hopes."

"We were hoping that you could be persuading to sharing that information with us," Mia explained. "Her Majesty's government is prepared to compensate you quite handsomely for your assistance."

"Her Majesty's government has no idea of the extent of my enterprises," Cat responded sharply. "Britisher money means very little to me. I am of Hong Kong but I have no loyalty to the Isles."

"What of your loyalty to Shang-Chi?" Lancaster asked. "You must know that he's been rumoured to be a part of this insurrection, and that he's doing it for Britain. The files said that you had a great deal of respect for him. Will you allow his name to continue to be sullied?" Lancaster felt strange to be talking in Shang-Chi's defense. He had been a bitter enemy, until Fah Lo Suee showed Lancaster the error of his ways.

"Yes, I know the rumours surrounding Shang-Chi." Cat paced towards the back of the warehouse, causing Mia and Lancaster to follow. "I also know them to be patently false."

"Can you at least share proof of that with us?" Mia implored. She wondered if Cat was already taking them to where that information was kept."

"Of course." Cat snapped his fingers and launched himself at Mia. At the sound of his signal, Xan-Chi descended from a stack of crates onto Lancaster. The sudden attack took the two MI-6 agents completely by surprise.

Mia's fighting skills were prodigious, but they were no match against one who had repeatedly fought the Master of Kung Fu to a standstill. She held Cat off for a few seconds, more than she truly could have hoped for. In the end, she fell before him.

Lancaster had no opportunity to slip on the helmet-mask that completed his armour. As such, he could electrify. The armour provided him some protection against Xan-Chi's blows, but that was all. Xan-Chi had the element of surprise, and Lancaster was forced onto the defensive. The face and the moves of his opponent were those of Shang-Chi, and Shockwave had only come close to defeating Shang-Chi because of the electrical power of his armour. Without that, he would fall before superior skill. Xan-Chi was superior. Shockwave fell.

"They say that curiosity kills the cat," Shen cackled maliciously as he readied himself to administer the coup de grace. "This time, the Cat kills curiosity!"

"No!" a voice rang out. Its sound demanded obedience.

Cat held his hand back from delivering a fatal blow, and then slowly stepped back and stood at attention. He looked towards the shadows, from which the dreaded form of Fu Manchu emerged. His golden robes were adorned with a jade dragon pattern that seemed to move about the cloth.

"Killing them would be wasteful," Fu Manchu declared. "You will not kill them, Shen Kuei."

"Then what shall we do with them, Father?" Xan-Chi asked.

"They shall be used as tools to further draw our enemies out," Fu Manchu explained. "By using Cat, we have forced my daughter to begin showing her hand. Now two of her top operatives are in our care." He leaned over and ran his talon-like fingers through Mia's silver-streaked hair. "This will force Fah Lo Suee to undertake more personal involvement in this affair. She shall come to Hong Kong in search of final victory over me, but all she will find his ultimate defeat at the hands of her father, Fu Manchu!"

NEXT ISSUE : If Shang-Chi, Leiko, and J.B. Reston ever want to get to Hong Kong, they'll have to survive a pitched battle in Limehouse.

KUNG FU WRITING

Bob Gansler
28-Nov-00